Hairbrush



April 2, 1946. I l-LscHwEDERsKY 253979757 l HAIRBRUSH I Filed May 30, -1944 /MMQSCHMDLRSKY IN VEN TOR.

AENT

Patented Apr. 2, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,397,75i v 'Y l E HAIRBaUsH l Herv Schwedersky, New York, N Y.A Application May 30, 1944, Serial No. 537,994

5 Claims.

' My invention relates to a hairbrush and more particularly to a new and novel hairbrush having therapeutic properties.

It is the object of my invention to provide a hairbrush which promotes the healthy growth of the hair by therapeutically stimulating the flow of blood to the glands and roots of the hair, by

objects are achieved by a halrbrush comprising a brush frame within which is positioned a source of ultra-violet radiations, a brush mount which is permeable to ultra-violet radiations and which is so positioned in said holder as to be in cooperative `association with the ultra-violet source, and

,bristles positioned in said mount which bristles may consist of a material of the type used in the customary types of hairbrushes but which for reasons later to be pointed out preferably consist of a material having ultra-violet ray transmitting properties.

My invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the appended drawing forming part of the specification and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view showing one form of a therapeutic hairbrush in accordance with myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the therapeutic hairbrush of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing one form kof retaining member for securing the bristle mount in the brush frame. v

The therapeutic brush shown comprises a brush frame I0, a handle portion II integrally formed with the frame IIJ, a bristle mount I2 and bristles I3.

The frame I and handle' II may be formed of molded resinous material such as cellulose acetate, hard rubber, Bakelite or the like.

"As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the frame I0 is hollow and within the same is positioned an ultraviolet ray-generating source I4. The source shown comprises a tubular electric-discharge tube having an envelope I5 consisting of quartz, of acrylic resin or of similar ultra-violet ray-permeable material- At the ends of the tube and hermetically sealed therein are discharge electrodes Iii-I6 in the form of incandescent laments coated with a suitable electron-emissive material such as a mixture of strontium and barium oxides. In addition, the tube I5 contains a quantity of a suitable gaseous medium which undeiyelectric-discharge conditions ionizes and produces ultra-violet radiations a significant propor- .tion of which have wavelengths within the range of about 1,000 to about 4,000 ngstrom units.v A highly satisfactory gaseous medium for this purpose is mercury vapor which, when ionized under conditions of relatively low pressure, produces ultra-violet radiations having a wavelength predominantly in the region of 2736 ngstrom units which radiations have been found to `possess the highest bactericidal and anti-rachitic or vitamin D activation properties.

In accordance with the practice common to the -artof fluorescent lamps, the tube I5 may also contain a gas such as neon, krypton or argon, to facilitate the startingV of the electric discharge and the ionization of the mercury vapor.

The ultra-violet ray source I4 is secured Within thevframe I0 by socket members I'I-I8 which engage terminal prongs I9`I9 and 2li- 20, respectivelllof the source I4; socket I'l being rig idly secured to the forward end-wall 2I of the cavity within the frame I0, whereas the .socket I8 is iiexibly mounted on the rear end-wall 22 vof the cavity by means of a spring 23 thereby permitting lthermal linear expansion of the components of the ultra-violet ray source.

The source Mis energized through a cable 24 whichl passes ,through the brush handle II and contains conductor `pairs 25.-25 and 264-26 which interconnect thev terminals I9-I9 and 2 -,20, respectively, and a' ballast auxiliary 21 arranged external to V'the therapeutic brush. A toggle switch 29 connected in series with one of the conductors is provided in the handle II at a Vreadily accessible pointfor the easy switching on and off of the ultra-violet source. vIn practice and for the sake of compactness I prefer to combine the auxiliary `2I and the electrical outlet connection into a single structure as shown in Fig. 1. y

The brush mount I2 rcomprises a molded rectangular body consisting preferably of an ultraviolet ray transmitting material. Particularly l'suitable materials for this purpose are the acrylic resins among which may be mentioned methyl methacrylate; commonly known under the trade name Lucite In order to minimize transmis` and a clasp 34 engaginga locking snap 35 mounted on the holder I adjacent to the handle II.

The bristles I3 may consist of a material of the type used for the known type of hairbrushes, for example the bristles may consist of Nylonf However, I prefer to make the bristles of a material which transmits ultra-violet rays, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the ultra-Violet'Y ray source. In some instances, for example when using a brush mount I2 consisting of a material and therapeutic properties and when reaching the A skin to promote the ow of blood and activate vitamin D production.

of relatively low ultra-violet ray-transmitting properties and bristles I3 consisting of a material of relatively great ultra-violet ray-transmitting properties, highly eiective transmission from the ultra-violet ray source is achieved by so embed- 'ding the bristles I3 in the mount I2 that they extendV through the mount Yas shown in Fig. 3. With-suchV a construction itis possible to use a brush mount consisting of a material having substantially no ultra-violet ray-transmitting properties, because' in this instance the transmission My invention Would stimulate healthy and luxuriant hair growth through the bactericidal properties of ultra-violet radiation and by stimulating the ilow of blood to the glands and roots of the hair.

While Iy have described my invention in a specific embodiment and by means of specic examples, jI do not wish to be limitedjthereto for obvious modifications will occur to thcseskilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit and properties of the 'bristles per se thus make the Y mount permeable to ultra-.violet rays. y

- In addition to the bristles I3 I may embedjin the mount. I2 one or more series of comb teeth 3.6. which may-'be molded as an integral part of the bristle'mpunt. or; may consist or individual elements embedded in the bristle mount. When the brush mount consists oi a material of relatively low ultra-violet ray permeability, rthe comb teeth consist of a highly permeable material and are embeddedthrough the brush mount, so as to p rovide an ecient transmission oi the ultra-violet rays..

v The combinedbristle and combstructure shown has the advantage. that the comb teeth prevent ,matting of the .hair and effectively place the ultra-violet ray source in direct contact with the scalp to be treated by reason of the ultra-violet ray-permeable character thereof..

In the preferred embodiment showm the mount ismadefeasily removable. Such a construction permits the substitution of other similar brush mounts in instances. where, several members of a family may each have his own brush mount and desire to use a common brush frame., and permits the substitution or othertypes of brush mounts for specialized; treatment. l

ToV further effectively increase the eciency of the ultra-violet ray source'the cavity in the holder H)l is lined' with an ultra-violet ray reector 3.7., which may consist,` for example, ci a highly pol'- i-shed thin aluminum sheet ceiriented to the interiorv surface of' the holder;

Since the usual sources of'ultra-viol'et: radiations are decientin visible light, I prefer to coat a portion of Vthe source I4l with a layer 38 of fluorescent material by means of which it maybe readily determined Vwhether the source isoperating and; at. 'the same time the visible light so produced. serves for il-lurm'nation. Fromthe foregoing description it can readily be seen thatmy invention relates to a. hairbrush possessing novel. and' startling properties not Otherwise obtainable.,

newbrushis.compact,.lighizin Weight, safe, and asv easy to; use as an, ordinary hairbrush. Furthermore, the brush isr so designed; that; the user while A brushing hishair substantiallyfin the customarymannerA will. subject; his scalp; to; the

beneficial, radiation from an ultra-violetray etenerator located Within the brush itself..

scope of the invention.V

What I claim is:-

l. A therapeuticV brush comprising a brush frame provided with a cavity, an ultra-violet raygenerating source within said cavity, a brush mount enclosing said source in said cavity and consisting substantially threughout'of 'an ultraviolet ray-transmitting material, and bristles consisting of an ultra-violet ray-transmitting material secured to said brush mount.

2. A therapeutic bruslrcomprising a brush frame provided with a cavity, an ultra-violet raygenerating source within said' cavity, a brush mount enclosing said source, and bristles consisting of an ultra-violet ray-transmitting material embedded in said mount, extending therethrough and providing an ultra-violet ray path through said mount.

3. A therapeutic brush comprising a Ybrush frame provided with a cavity, an ultra-violet raygenerating source within said cavity, a brush mount enclosing sai-d source in said cavity and consisting substantially throughout of an ultraviolet ray-transmitting material, bristles consisting of an ultra-violet ray-transmitting material Vrsecured tovsaid brush mount, and a layer of yfiuorescent materialpositioned with-insaid cavity in the path of aporti'onof the radiations from said source;

4'.. A therapeutic brush comprising a brush Y frame provided with a cavity, an ultra-violet raygenerating source within said' cavity, a brush n consisting substantially throughoutr of; an: ultrais violet ray-transmitting; material, bristles` consist.- ing of an ultra-violet ray-transmitting material secured to said brush mounta layer of fluorescent material formingv a coating onf a: portionof said source, and a reiiective aluminum; sheet memberl secured to said frame within the cavity andzlnterposed betweenfthe-said frame andthe said source.

'HERV SCHWEDERSKY, 

